Revival and Renewal
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PRAYING KARNATAKA ù<o~Kù SHUBHASAMACHARA Bj"æljDjAjtÖoÚj MANDALI Aj"0Ûjb WITNESSING DISCIPLING Post Box No.9550, Koramangala, Bangalore 560095 Phone / Fax: 080-25531214; 28465900 E-mail: [email protected] JANUARY / MARCH 2006 FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY No.96 REVIVAL AND RENEWAL lthough it seems like a short – 2 Chronicles 7:14 Missionaries started their work in 1834 while ago, we have come a long A with their headquarters at Mangalore way from our humble beginnings. 22 in South Karnataka. These missionaries successful years have passed in the 22nd Anniversary had a passion for souls, as such they ministry of KSM and we praise God for led many men to Christ irrespective of His unfailing faithfulness and Special Gospel Meetings caste or creed. These missionaries, sustenance through these years. We at Motebennur especially like Samuel Hebich who also acknowledge with much gratitude quickly picked up the local Kannada your faithful support of our ministry. of Haveri District. language, went about preaching the Thank you for all your encouragement. gospel in streets and in market places In celebration of our and also distributed tracts and Anniversary, Special Gospel Bible portions. Many gathered (Revival) Meetings were around the missionaries. While conducted at Motebennur some ridiculing, others heard village of Haveri district on 14th the gospel. Some took the tracts and 15th January 2006, at CSI and burnt them before the Shanthi Church. There are 150 missionaries. Some others took families who worship in this them and tore them. church. They and their Missionaries were persecuted in ancestors who became many places. Yet they went Christians are the fruits of the about preaching the gospel Basel Mission missionaries. peacefully. This aroused a sort The first 3 Basel Mission of curiosity among the non- (Below) Special guest Mr. S. Siddanna, IPS, the Superintendent (Below) Kannada Gospel songs by of Police of Haveri district being KSM team with Anitha Immanuel at received by Rev. David. R. Shirur CSI Shanthi Church the keyboard and Kevin Immanuel and Rev. B. D. Immanuel. at Motebennur in Haveri district. playing base guitar. chosen in 1837. Then, Dharwad and Hubli were covered in 1837 and 1839. Later, other stations were opened in Guledgudda in Bijapur district in 1851, Gadag-Betgeri and Motebennur in Dharwad in 1853. Another aspect of their concentration was that Kolar Methodist Church youth presenting Special guest Mr. S. Siddanna, IPS, SP and special gospel songs. of schools. They opened mission his wife being presented with gospel schools in Mangalore, Dharwad and Meetings at Motebennur brought us Christians to know as to what sort of Hubli. They opened Mission hospitals great joy, as they were the culmination people they were. Why should the in Udupi, Gadag-Betgeri, Guledgudda, of months of planning, preparation and missionaries take pains to preach the and a clinic in Motebennur. Through prayer. We are therefore extremely gospel? Why should they spend their these agencies they tried to preach the thankful to you for upholding these money for this cause? Why should they gospel. As a result of their work, 8 meetings in your prayers. We are also bear such persecutions patiently? These churches in Bijapur district thankful to Rev. David Shirur, and 15 churches in Dharwad presbyter in-charge of CSI Shanthi district, 12 to 15 churches in Church, all pastorate committee Mangalore district were members and KNH Warden and her established. Two technical team who helped to organize these training schools, one in meetings at CSI Shanthi Church, Mangalore and one in Motebennur. About 300 people from Dharwad and a theological Haveri, Ranebennur, Budapanahalli, college in Mangalore were Sunakal Bidari, Kanavalli, Guttal, opened. Work was gradually Negalur, Bannimatti, Hubli and progressing. Dharwad churches attended the two Then there was a days’ Revival Meetings, which brought sudden fall in the growth of immense blessings. A number of them the church. In 1941 the World dedicated their lives to Jesus and for On 15th January ’06 KSM provided lunch to War I broke out causing a crisis in the all those attended the Revival meetings. A His glory. section of congregation having lunch. mission because of lack of men and Both the days I had the privilege of money. But later in 1953 Basel Mission bringing God’s messages in the evening were the questions they were asking missionaries gave their consent to join meetings and Sunday morning service. among themselves. the Church of South India (CSI). As a A 10-member team of Kolar Methodist The work of Basel Mission missionaries result the Motebennur Basel Mission Church youth along with KSM team that began in Mangalore in 1834 soon Church became CSI Shanthi Church. ministered at the meetings through spread in all directions. As a second This is where KSM conducted the gospel lyrics and songs. Each member sphere the North Karnataka areas was Revival and Renewal Meetings for two Contd.on page 6 CSI Shanthi Church, Motebennur days. congregation. The success of these Revival Rev. B. D. Immanuel bringing God’s Word. JANUARY/MARCH 2006 2 KARNATAKA SHUBHASAMACHARA MANDALI JOY SINGERS from Germany visit Bangalore, Mysore, Mandya, Tumkur, Kolar and KGF Prisons Joy singers, a 16-member team from was in Bangalore Germany brought great blessings to from 4th to 14th of many prisoners, church February and congregations, college, slum people ministered in 7 and KSM Board members, staff, prisons, 6 churches, 1 college, a slum Joy singers presenting gospel songs in friends and their families during the and a mission organization. Along Kannada and Hindi at Bangalore Central Prison. month of February 2006. The team with them, KSM also conducted a seminar on the subject of bringing awareness among them as to Joy singers, KSM team and volunteers at Bangalore Central Prison. “Understanding a Prisoner”, “How how the grace of God can bring about Christians are to reach the forgiveness of sin leading to joy, prisoners with the gospel happiness in one’s life. and Biblical Truth”, We had obtained official “Counseling and Legal Aid permission from Mr. Dharampal for Prisoner” and Negi, IPS the Additional Director Integration and General of Police and Inspector Rehabilitation”. There were General of Prisons with the help of Gospel music, skit, Mr. L. Pachuau, IPS, the Additional testimonies and scripture Director General of Police, Karnataka messages. Each member of Lokayukta, Bangalore and long- the team was a committed standing member of the KSM Board Christian and the leader of of Trustees to visit Bangalore Central the team was Mr. Achim Prison, Bangalore Open Air Prison Halfmann. They and Central Prisons in Mysore, all belonged to Mandya, Tumkur, Kolar and KGF Crossroad Prison and conduct gospel meetings along ministry. They with Joy Singers. It was a great interacted with encouragement for the KSM staff and the prisoners, Board of Trustees during the 10 days prison officials, of their ministry. Their singing and principals and testimonies expressed deep devotion students of to God. Their clear and forceful colleges and presentations of the gospel appealed pastors and to people of all age groups and from leaders in all walks of life. Their singing in churches and Kannada, Hindi, English and German assemblies languages was appropriate. After (Above) A section of the 3500 prisoners gathered at Bangalore Central Prison. (Below) Edmund of Joy Singers sharing his testi- Joy singers presenting gospel songs in Kannada and Hindi to mony, Bro. Achim and Rev. B. D. Immanuel interpreting. over 1000 prisoners gathered there. KARNATAKA SHUBHASAMACHARA MANDALI 3 JANUARY/MARCH 2006 (Left) Bro. Bernd presenting the gospel through a skit. (Right)Bro. Helmut and volunteers distributing the gospel tracts and booklets. saved and now is living for Jesus Christ. What a their ministry, we could jointly wonderful joy it was to see distribute thousands of gospels, tracts these prisoners turning to and booklets in Kannada, Tamil, the Lord Jesus Christ. Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Urdu and During the regular visits Marathi. We realized that God was at of our evangelists H. T. work and we were indeed happy that Mathai, K. Y. Kamble and their visit has opened more volunteers, the inmates of opportunities to work in the area of the prisons have often ministering to thousands of prison expressed their strong desire inmates in Karnataka. to know more about Jesus Convicted prisoners, Ramesh, Christ and to grow in the Puttappa Akki, Nagendra, Srinivas, faith. We keep supplying Channappa, Gangadhara Gurappa in some literature to help them (Above) Joy singers team member Axel Bangalore and Mysore Central Prison spiritually. We feel encouraged by sharing the gospel to Kolar prisoners. their response to the gospel. We are confessed their sins to Jesus Christ Every one who is placed under confident that our Lord will and experienced the joy of detention needs a positive contact strengthen us in the ministry. forgiveness and salvation after with somebody. To meet this need, Psychological and social services hearing the gospel and testimony of KSM Crossroad Prison Ministry in can speak about guilt and atonement an ex-prisoner from Joy Singers who Bangalore makes regular visits to 7 but they cannot offer forgiveness. confessed that he himself had been prisons with volunteers. (Below) Joy singers, KSM team & volunteers distributing gospel tracts, booklets and Gospel packets to prisoners. (Below) Joy singers at Kristu Jayanthi College. (Below left) Mr. H. T. Matthew, KSM prison evangelist giving a gospel talk to prisoners. (Below) Dr. Susan from Kolar Methodist (Below right) KSM doctor Mary George examining prison patients. Hospital examining the prison patients. JANUARY/MARCH 2006 4 KARNATAKA SHUBHASAMACHARA MANDALI From the Executive Director’s Desk Dearly beloved friends in Christ, A very warm and loving greetings to you in the precious Nurse distributing free medicines to and wonderful name prisoners.